Real County's Commitment To Financial Transparency

Constituents pay for their government and deserve to know how it spends their money. Real County is committed to financial transparency. County officials make every effort to open the county's books to the public and provide a clear, consistent picture of spending with detailed information on how tax dollars are allocated and spent. This information is provided online in an easily accessible, user-friendly format with features that allow taxpayers to easily drill down for more detailed information. Real County's objective is to build trust among all constituents by posting financial information online and allowing many records to be freely accessible, rather than requiring the public to file information requests to obtain the information. Opening the county's books invites citizens to comment on spending decisions and become involved in the decision-making process, which is a key ingredient of democracy.

Transparency is a broad term that, quite literally, means something that can be seen through. Transparency ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently by ensuring all decisions are made in the open and on the record. Technology — and the web in particular — has changed the expectations for customer service and government transparency at all levels. In a computer- and Internet-based society, government can no longer justify the money and time required to print reports. Publishing information online means no postage, no waiting for the mail, up-to-date documents and worldwide accessibility. Transparency should not be confused with sharing confidential information. Real County posts financial information while still being sensitive to the protection of information deemed confidential by law.

Real County's Financial Documents, Annual Budgets and Other Information

Treasurer's Reports

The monthly report from the Real County Treasurer shows the beginning and ending balances of the county's operating accounts in the previous month, the amounts to be paid by the county as of the report date, the restricted funds held by the county, and the county's emergency reserves.

Treasurer's Report 03-12-12

Utility Bills

A list of the county's monthly utility bills in the current fiscal year can be found here.

Annual Budgets

Real County adopts an annual budget for each fiscal year. The county's fiscal year runs from October 1st to September 30th. The annual budget serves as Real County's business plan for the year, written in numbers. The annual budget shows proposed annual revenues and expenditures broken down by program, elected office and/or department.

Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget

Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Raw Format Budget

Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget 

Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget 

Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget 

Current Tax Rates

Real County has adopted a 2011 property tax rate of 0.5124 per $100.00 of valuation, a reduction from the 2010 tax rate of 0.5321.

THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY THREE PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $14.90.

The Commissioners' Court order adopting the 2011 property tax rate can be found here.

Real County's property tax rates for the last 10 years are:

2011     0.5124

2010     0.5321

2009     0.5913

2008     0.6017

2007     0.5891

2006     0.6171

2005     0.5991

2004     0.5971

2003     0.6038

2002     0.5996

Real County does not impose any local sales tax, local hotel tax or other local taxes.

Annual Financial Reports

Real County has an annual audit of its financial performance done by an outside CPA team. The annual financial report prepared by that CPA team shows Real County's budgeted to actual revenue and expenses for that fiscal year, and demonstrates the exent to which the county has managed within the budget for that year.

Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Financial Report

Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Financial Report

Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Financial Report

Check Registers & Payroll Disbursements

The check register shows the date, payee and amount of expenses paid by Real County in a particular month or year.

April 2012 Check Register

March 2012 Check Register

February 2012 Check Register

January 2012 Check Register

December 2011 Check Register

November 2011 Check Register

October 2011 Check Register

Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Check Register

Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Check Register

Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Check Register

Payroll disbursement schedules show the payroll, withholding and payroll taxes, and benefits paid by Real County in a particular period.

Fiscal Year 2011-2012 To Date Payroll Disbursements

Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Payroll Disbursements

Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Payroll Disbursements

Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Payroll Disbursements

Visual Representation of Financial Data

Charts depicting Real County's projected revenues and expenses for 2011-2012 can be found here.

County Contact Information

The main physical address for Real County is the Real County Courthouse at 146 Highway 83 South, Leakey, TX 78873.

The main mailing address for Real County is the office of the Real County Judge at P.O. Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873.

The main telephone number for Real County is the office of the Real County Judge at (830) 232-5304.

Contact Information For Elected Officials

Real County Judge Garry Merritt can be reached by telephone at (830) 232-5304.

Real County Precinct 1 Commissioner Manuel Rubio can be reached by telephone at (830) 232-6623.

Real County Precinct 2 Commissioner Bryan Shackleford can be reached by telephone at (830) 232-5756.

Real County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gene Buckner can be reached by telephone at (210) 241-5241.

Real County Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Connell can be reached by telephone at (830) 597-5159.

Public Information Requests    

Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records. All government information is presumed to be available to the public, although certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. The law requires governmental bodies to release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought.

1. Submit a request by mail, fax, email or in person. A request by mail can be mailed to P.O. Box 446, Leakey, TX 78873. A request by fax can be sent to (830) 232-6040. A request in person can be hand delivered to the office of the Real County Judge at the Real County Courthouse at 146 Highway 83 South in Leakey, TX.

2. Include enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the public information officer to accurately identify and locate the information requested.

3. Cooperate with the public information officer's reasonable efforts to clarify the type or amount of information requested.

Cost of records: Real County charges $0.10 per page for 8 ½ x 11 size copies. Charges for non-standard copies will be at a higher cost depending on size and format. The charge for labor costs incurred in processing a request for public information is $15 an hour. The labor charge includes the actual time to locate, compile, manipulate data, and reproduce the requested information. A labor charge will not be billed in connection with complying with requests that are for 50 or fewer pages of paper. Real County will give you an estimate of charges before the work is undertaken. You must respond to any written estimate of charges within 10 days of the date Real County sent it or the request is considered automatically withdrawn. If estimated costs exceed $100.00, Real County may require a bond, prepayment or deposit.